Driver fee forgiveness hits a roadblock

Driver responsibility fees were adopted more than a decade ago to balance the state budget. Now they're unpopular, but the state still relies on the money they bring in.

Bills that would forgive driver responsibility fees owed by more than 300,000 Michigan residents were approved today by a state House committee. But they’ve stalled now because they’re opposed by the state Treasury.

The problem is the fees generate about $80 million a year. The fees were approved in 2003 to help keep the state budget balanced during the recession.